Yasukuni

Directed by Li Ying

Film Forum

209 West Houston Street

212-727-8110

Opens August 12

 

Review by Carly Dahlen

 

Temple of Doom: Li Ying's documentary "Yasukuni" revisits a sore spot in post-WWII Japan.

 

In “Yasukuni,” Chinese filmmaker Li Ying sets out to prove that he might know Japanese history better than the Japanese themselves. Centered on the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, a war memorial located in Tokyo, Ying’s film combines historical documentary imagery with contemporary interview footage of a sword-maker named Kariya Naoji. Activists have protested against the Yasukuni Shrine in recent decades due to the fact that it houses the remains of World War II war criminals alongside the remains of millions of other soldiers. Protesters want to see the criminals’ remains removed, as well as those of other military veterans who were enshrined against their families’ will. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, have further fueled the controversy by paying respects at the shrine against the will of many Japanese citizens. Ying examines the history in a direct cinema style by featuring unfiltered, lengthy clips of vocal protesters and interviewees. Through this style of filmmaking, the director questions the Japanese government’s distortion of its military history, and the motivation for endorsing such falsehoods.

 

It is difficult to connect with the material in Ying’s film without a solid knowledge of recent Japanese history. The filmmaker features unmediated footage, which tends to drag on and lose its intensity; as a result, the viewer faces a challenge in remaining engaged by the content, and an exacerbated disconnect results from the unfamiliar historical/political events onscreen. Though the film has powerful moments, and a handful of smartly executed edits between the sword-maker’s interview and the protesters’ demonstrations, its construction fails to match the momentum of its featured protests. Before watching “Yasukuni,” it might be wise to check out a few books on the history of post-war Japan. The knowledge will enhance your experience and understanding of the film.

 

Film Forum’s exhibition of “Yasukuni” coincides with the 64th anniversary of the end of WWII (or V-J Day): August 15.